Safety bathtub seat



April 23, 63 J. F. GASS 3,086,221

SAFETY BATHTUB SEAT Filed July 31, 1961 2 Sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR JAMESFRANCIS GASS A 'T TOR/V15 Y United States Patent 3,086,221 SAFETYBATHTUB SEAT James Francis Gass, 66 E. 83rd St, New York, -N.Y.

Filed July 31, 1961,Ser.'No. 128,038

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-185) This invention relates to bathtub seats and moreparticularly to a seat adapted to be supported within a tub of the rollrim, built-in or other standard type and suspended from the rim edge ofthe tub.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a bathtub seat withmeans for supporting the seat from the rim edge of the tub and also fromthe side wall of the tub, thus distributing the bearing of thesupporting parts upon the tub and obviating the necessity of using hooksor other members caught around the rim of the tub and engaging with theporcelain lining at the edge thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a seat for a bathtub thatis readily applied to an ordinary bathtub and is readily made to fit theordinary bathtub.

A further object is to provide a bathtub seat that is adjustable to fittubs of varying widths, even built-in tubs with a flush wall.

Yet another object is to provide a bathtub seat that is adapted to bepositioned on the rim of the ordinary tub and is provided with means forsecuring the seat in position and for preventing slippage.

A still further object is to provide a bathtub seat that is strong anddurable, simple in construction and that may be used in tubs of thefinest construction and material without danger of damaging the surfacesthereof at the par-ts where the seat is applied.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a fragment of a bathtub with a seatembodying the present invention applied thereto.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modified form of bathtubseat.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 an ordinary porcelainbathtub 10 is shown having a flat rim 12. A bathtub seat 14, made inaccordance with one form of the invention, is shown in the tub suspendedfrom the rim 12.

The bathtub seat 14 comprises a flat rectangular-shaped smooth =woodenpanel, constituting a seat 16. At each end, a pair of steel brackets orclamps 18 is secured to the seat by means of pairs of bolt and nutassemblies 20. Each bracket 18 comprises an elongated rectangularshapedflat strip of metal 22 terminating at one end in a flat flange disposedat right angles to the plane of the strip and extending in one directionand constituting a supporting arm 24. The strip terminates at its otherend in a similar flat flange disposed at right angles to the plane ofthe strip and extending in the opposite direction and constituting asupporting arm 26. The arm 26 is formed with a pair of smooth-walledholes 28. Each assembly 20 comprises a pair of threaded bolts 30 eachformed with a head .32 and adjacent noncircular shank 3,036,221 PatentedApr. 23, 1963 2 portion 34, the remainder of the bolt being threaded;The bolts 30 extend through smooth-walled openings 36 formed in the endsof the seat '16 and through the aligned smooth-walled openings 28 in thearms 26 of the brackets. Nuts 38 on the protruding ends of the boltssecure the brackets to the seat and washers 40 are interposed betweenthe nuts and arms 26.

A strip of nonslipping material such as rubber is secured to the innersurfaces of the strip 22 and arm 24, said strips constituting linings42. The linings are formed with corrugations 44 to enhance the grippingaction thereof. The linings prevent the brackets from slipping on theporcelain of the tub and also protect the porcelain surfaces from damageby the seat.

Additional means is also provided to prevent slippage of the bracketsand seat and to afford adjustment whereby the seat is adapted to fitvarying sizes of tubs and also fit built-in tubs with a flush wall. Thismeans comprises a screw 48 supported horizontally by means of an angularbracket 50 secured to one end of the seat 16 at its center by bolt andnut assembies similar to the bolt and nut assemblies 20 securing thebrackets 22 to the seat. The screw 48 extends through a threaded hole 52in the bracket 50 and carried on one end thereof is a rubber cup orwasher-54 adapted to contact the side wall of the tub. On the other endof the screw there is a roughened finger piece 56 for manipulating thescrew. Upon setting up on the screw the cup or washer frictionallyengages the wall of the tub thereby preventing slippage and assistingthe arms 24 and strips 22 in supporting the seat. Furthermore, the screwwill take up any clearance between the seat 16 and side wall of the tubthereby accommodating the seat to various widths of tubs.

In the use of the seat, the weight is borne entirely upon the cushionlinings 42, and these linings are supported upon the porcelain orenameled surfaces of the tub away from any edge portions thereof, thusguarding against cracking, peeling or otherwise damaging the surface.

In FIG. 6, a modified form of bathtub seat 14' is shown. This formdiffers from the seat 14 merely in providing a backrest 50' for the userof the seat. The backrest 50 includes an L-shaped bracket 52, thehorizontal arm of which, as viewed in FIG. 6, is fastened to theunderside of the seat 16 by bolt and nut assemblies similar to the boltand nut assemblies 20. A rectangular-shaped board 54' is suitablyfastened to and across the top end of the vertical arm '56 of thebracket 52. The board is dis posed vertically in substantially the planeof the adjacent long edge of the seat 16' so that the back of the usermay engage the same for support.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

A bathtub seat comprising a rectangular-shaped flat wooden panelconstituting a seat, said panel having holes at its ends, spaced angularsupporting brackets connected to the ends of the panel and extendingangularly and outwardly of the ends, said angular brackets having holesadjacent one end thereof in line with the holes in the panel, saidconnection including bolt and nut assemblies extending through the holesin the panel and brackets, corrugated strips of rubber on the surfacesof the protruding portions of the brackets to prevent slippage of thebrackets and panel, an angular bracket secured to one 3,086,221 3 end ofthe panel between the first-named brackets, said latter angular brackethaving a threaded opening in one end thereof, a screw member extendingthrough said opening, a rubber cup on one end of the screw member for gg engaging the wall of a bathtub, a finger piece on the 5 657640 Beetleother end of the screw member, an L-shaped bracket rown ep 2,142,434Bentz Jan. 3, having one end secured to a long edge of said panel, said2,806,226 Hofi Sept. 17,

bracket having an arm extending vertically perpendicular to the panel,and a board secured to the upper free end FOREIGN PATENTS of the arm toserve as a backrest. 10 651,195 Germany Oct. 8,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

